The 2008 Notre Dame football roster was a formidable lineup, boasting a mix of seasoned veterans and promising young talents. Led by head coach Charlie Weis, the team had high expectations for the season. Among the key players that year were standout quarterback Jimmy Clausen, whose strong arm and leadership guided the offense. He had reliable targets in wide receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd, both known for their agility and explosive plays.
On the defensive side, linebacker Brian Smith commanded the field with his tenacious tackles, while safety David Bruton’s speed and hard-hitting style intimidated opposing offenses. The team also relied on a sturdy offensive line led by tackle Sam Young and center Eric Olsen to protect Clausen and open up running lanes for running back Armando Allen.
Despite facing some challenges, the 2008 Notre Dame football roster showcased a talented group of athletes who left their mark on the program.
| No | Name | POS | HT | WT | YR | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deion Walker | WR | 6’2″ | 188 | FR | Christchurch, VA (Christchurch HS) |
| 3 | Michael Floyd | WR | 6’3″ | 215 | FR | Saint Paul, MN (Cretin-Derham Hall HS) |
| 4 | Gary Gray | CB | 5’11” | 180 | SO | Columbia, SC (Richland Northeast HS) |
| 5 | Armando Allen | RB | 5’10” | 195 | SO | Hialeah, FL (Hialeah’Miami Lakes HS) |
| 6 | Ray Herring | SS | 5’10” | 198 | SR | Melbourne, FL (Holy Trinity Episcopal School) |
| 7 | Jimmy Clausen | QB | 6’3″ | 217 | SO | Westlake Village, CA (Oaks Christian HS) |
| 8 | Raeshon McNeil | CB | 6’0″ | 190 | JR | Mocksville, NC (Davie County HS) |
| 9 | Ethan Johnson | DE | 6’4″ | 275 | FR | Portland, OR (Lincoln HS) |
| 9 | Kyle Rudolph | TE | 6’6″ | 252 | FR | Cincinnati, OH (Elder HS) |
| 10 | Dayne Crist | QB | 6’4″ | 233 | FR | Sherman Oaks, CA (Notre Dame HS) |
| 11 | David Grimes | WR | 6’0″ | 177 | SR | Detroit, MI (Detroit City HS) |
| 12 | Robert Blanton | CB | 6’1″ | 180 | FR | Matthews, NC (Butler HS) |
| 13 | Evan Sharpley | QB | 6’2″ | 215 | SR* | Marshall, MI (Marshall HS) |
| 14 | Brandon Walker | K | 6’3″ | 202 | SO | Findlay, OH (Findlay HS) |
| 15 | Dan McCarthy | FS | 6’2″ | 200 | FR | Youngstown, OH (Cardinal Mooney HS) |
| 18 | Duval Kamara | WR | 6’5″ | 219 | SO | Hoboken, NJ (Hoboken HS) |
| 19 | George West | WR | 5’8″ | 196 | JR | Oklahoma City, OK (Northeast HS) |
| 20 | Terrail Lambert | CB | 5’11” | 195 | 5th | Ventura, CA (St. Bonaventure HS) |
| 21 | Barry Gallup | RB | 5’11” | 200 | JR* | Wellesley, MA (Wellesley 5th HS) |
| 22 | Harrison Smith | LB | 6’2″ | 212 | SO* | Knoxville, TN (Knoxville Catholic HS) |
| 23 | Golden Tate | WR | 5’11” | 195 | SO | HenderJRnville, TN (John Paul II HS) |
| 24 | Leonard Gordon | CB | 5’11” | 187 | JR* | Fort Campbell, KY (Fort Campbell HS) |
| 25 | Jonas Gray | RB | 5’10” | 220 | FR | Beverly Hills, MI (Detroit Country Day School) |
| 26 | Jamoris Slaughter | CB | 6’0″ | 182 | FR | Tucker, GA (Tucker HS) |
| 27 | David Bruton | SS | 6’2″ | 212 | SR | Miamisburg, OH (Miamisburg HS) |
| 28 | Kyle McCarthy | FS | 6’0″ | 203 | SR* | Youngstown, OH (Cardinal Mooney HS) |
| 29 | Jashaad Gaines | SS | 6’0″ | 202 | JR | Las Vegas, NV (Las Vegas HS) |
| 30 | Steve Paskorz | FB | 6’2″ | 235 | SO* | AlliJRn Park, PA (Hampton HS) |
| 31 | Sergio Brown | FS | 6’1″ | 205 | JR | Maywood, IL (ProviJR East HS) |
| 32 | Luke Schmidt | FB | 6’3″ | 246 | JR* | Jasper, IN (Jasper HS) |
| 33 | Robert Hughes | RB | 5’11” | 237 | SO | Chicago, IL (Hubbard HS) |
| 34 | James Aldridge | RB | 6’0″ | 225 | JR | Merrillville, IN (Merrillville HS) |
| 36 | David Posluszny | LB | 6’0″ | 220 | FR | Aliquippa, PA (Hopewell HS) |
| 39 | Ryan Burkhart | K | 5’11” | 185 | JR | Nappanee, IN (Northwood HS) |
| 40 | Maurice Crum Jr. | ILB | 6’0″ | 235 | 5th | Tampa, FL (Tampa Bay Technical HS) |
| 41 | Scott Smith | ILB | 6’3″ | 235 | SR | Highland Park, IL (Highland Park HS) |
| 42 | Kevin Washington | ILB | 6’1″ | 250 | JR | Sugar Land, TX (Stephen F Austin HS) |
| 44 | Asaph Schwapp | FB | 6’0″ | 257 | SR* | Hartford, CT (Weaver HS) |
| 45 | Darius Fleming | LB | 6’1″ | 236 | FR | Chicago, IL (St. Rita) |
| 46 | Steve Filer | LB | 6’3″ | 236 | FR | Chicago, IL (Mount Carmel HS) |
| 48 | Steve Quinn | OLB | 6’2″ | 225 | SR | Philadelphia, PA (St. Joseph’s Prep School) |
| 49 | Toryan Smith | ILB | 6’0″ | 244 | JR | Rome, GA (Rome HS) |
| 51 | Dan Wenger | OC | 6’4″ | 302 | JR* | Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) |
| 52 | Bracston Cave | OC | 6’3″ | 315 | FR | Mishawaka, IN (Penn HS) |
| 53 | Morrice Richardson | OLB | 6’2″ | 255 | JR | Atlanta, GA (Westlake HS) |
| 54 | Anthony McDonald | LB | 6’1″ | 225 | FR | Sherman Oaks, CA (Notre Dame HS) |
| 55 | Eric Olsen | OG | 6’4″ | 303 | JR | Brooklyn, NY (Poly Prep CDS) |
| 56 | Kerry Neal | DE | 6’2″ | 246 | SO | Bunn, NC (Bunn HS) |
| 57 | Mike Golic | OC | 6’3″ | 280 | FR | West Hartford, CT (Northwest Catholic HS) |
| 58 | Brian Smith | OLB | 6’3″ | 245 | SO | Overland Park, KS (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) |
| 59 | Chris Stewart | OG | 6’5″ | 328 | JR* | Klein, TX (Klein HS) |
| 67 | Thomas Bemenderfer | OC | 6’5″ | 300 | SR* | |
| 70 | Matt Romine | OT | 6’5″ | 292 | SO | Tulsa, OK (Union HS) |
| 72 | Paul Duncan | OT | 6’7″ | 308 | SR | Dallas, GA (East Paulding HS) |
| 73 | Lane Clelland | OT | 6’5″ | 281 | FR | Owings Mills, MD (McDonogh School) |
| 74 | Sam Young | OT | 6’7″ | 330 | JR | Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) |
| 75 | Taylor Dever | OG | 6’5″ | 301 | SO | Grass Valley, CA (Nevada Union HS) |
| 76 | Andrew Nuss | OG | 6’5″ | 304 | SO* | Ashburn, VA (Stone Bridge HS) |
| 77 | Michael Turkovich | OT | 6’6″ | 305 | SR | Wayne, PA (Valley Forge Military Academy) |
| 78 | Trevor Robinson | OG | 6’5″ | 306 | FR | Elkhorn, NE (Elkhorn HS) |
| 79 | Hafis Williams | DE | 6’1″ | 302 | FR | Elizabeth, NJ (Elizabeth HS) |
| 80 | Richard Jackson | WR | 6’3″ | 205 | JR | Clermont, FL (East Ridge HS) |
| 81 | John Goodman | WR | 6’3″ | 197 | FR | Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Dewenger HS) |
| 82 | Rob Parris | WR | 6’3″ | 210 | JR | Cleveland, OH (St. Ignatius HS) |
| 83 | Mike Ragone | TE | 6’5″ | 251 | SO | Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden Catholic) |
| 84 | Will Yeatman | TE | 6’6″ | 265 | JR | Poway, CA (Rancho Bernardo HS) |
| 87 | Joseph Fauria | TE | 6’7″ | 245 | FR | Encino, CA (Crespi Carmelite HS) |
| 89 | Kapron Lewis-Moore | DE | 6’4″ | 257 | FR | Weatherford, TX (Weatherford HS) |
| 90 | John Ryan | OLB | 6’5″ | 264 | JR | Cleveland, OH (St. Ignatius HS) |
| 91 | Emeka Nwankwo | DE | 6’4″ | 295 | SO* | Hollywood, FL (Chaminade Madonna College Prep) |
| 93 | Paddy Mullen | NT | 6’5″ | 300 | JR* | St. Louis, MO (De Smet Jesuit HS) |
| 94 | Justin Brown | DE | 6’3″ | 277 | 5th | Forestville, MD (Bishop Mcnamara HS) |
| 95 | Ian Williams | NT | 6’2″ | 310 | SO | Longwood, FL (Lyman HS) |
| 96 | Patrick Kuntz | DE | 6’3″ | 283 | SR | Indianapolis, IN (Roncalli HS) |
| 97 | Kallen Wade | LB | 6’5″ | 255 | JR* | Cincinnati, OH (Withrow HS) |
| 98 | Sean Cwynar | DE | 6’4″ | 282 | FR | Woodstock, IL (Marian Central Catholic HS) |
| 99 | Brandon Newman | NT | 6’0″ | 310 | FR | Louisville, KY (Pleasure Ridge Park HS) |
